Woman's lettuce beds a vehicle to unexpected bounty
A Bella Vista woman wants to be part of changing the perception that the world has become a very suspicious place. It all started with a 98-cent package of lettuce seeds.
Chairty Childers has been in her Bella Vista home for only about a year. So far she has installed two raised vegetable beds in the yard, although she plans to add many more. Earlier this spring she planted lettuce in one of the beds.
The yield was unexpectedly good, to say the least.
“We would never be able to eat that much lettuce at our house,” she said.
Wondering what to do, she thought, “Who doesn’t love fresh lettuce?”
So Childers put out some baggies and a pair of scissors and posted an invitation on Facebook for people to come and help themselves. Her house, she admits, isn’t easy to find, but an up-to-date GPS will work.
She knew exactly where to post her invitation because she is a member of the Facebook group “Positively Bella Vista.” The group not only works to keep their posts positive, they also work together on informal volunteer projects. Anyone with a need is invited to send a message to the page and one of the administrators will be in touch, Childers explained. They do small projects like clean out gutters or mow lawns. They don’t always post about what they do and they don’t always wait to be invited. Sometimes a member of the group will see a neighbor in need and just go take care of it, she said.
It only took a day or two for Childers to find a home for her lettuce. She reminded the group to cut it off at the base of the plants so the roots are undisturbed and continue to produce. Everyone took her advice to heart, so she plans another giveaway as soon as the lettuce is ready. When it gets too hot for lettuce, she’ll probably plant green beans in the same space and give the excess away.
“I want to cultivate that mindset of kindness and giving,” Childers said. “It rubs off on other people and if everyone had that mindset the world would be a better place.”